#como house

Miss Fisher Australia Tour (14)

Like the Rippon Lea Estate, the Como House and Garden also served dual purposes (at least the exterior) – The Freeman’s resident (S1E3 The Green Mill Murder) and the hospital where Mac and Doctor Harcourt worked on the war victims’ program (S3E4 Blood and Money).

The house was built in 1847, “an intriguing mix of Australian Regency and classic Italianate architecture” according to the National Trust of Australia website. I know nothing about architecture, so the significance is completely lost in me. Anyway, the Armytage family purchased it in 1864 and lived there for almost a century. The wealthy family was famous for their dance and dinner parties among Melbourne high society. After they sold the estate to the National Trust in 1959, the house was kept furnished with the family heirlooms, and even the servant’s areas, kitchen and laundry have been preserved.

The Como House is in South Yarra, which is only about 6 km (4 miles) from Melbourne. The National Trust website encourages visitors to “bring your own picnic and wander through the beautiful gardens”; however, house tours must be pre-booked online (Wednesdays and weekends only). I need to remember that.

Como Historic House and Garden

The Armytage family owned Como House in South Yarra for nearly 95 years. The property was managed by the women of the family for more than seventy years from 1876 to 1959. The history of the Armytage family, and the families who worked for them, provides an insight into almost a century of life on a large estate.

Como was purchased in 1864 by Charles Henry Armytage and it became the home of Charles, his wife Caroline, and their ten children. Charles died in 1876 and Caroline in 1909. Their daughters Leila, Constance, and Laura lived on at Como and left an indelible impression there.

The last surviving children of Charles and Caroline - Constance and Leila - sold Como to The National Trust of (Vic) in 1959. Como was the first house acquired by the Trust. One of the most significant aspects of this purchase was the acquisition of the complete contents of the house. The Armytage sisters realized that if Como was to survive as an expression of their family and its lifestyle, it must remain intact as a home. They also left an extensive archive of diaries, letters, journals and photographs.

Boasting one of Melbourne’s finest gardens, an inspiring historic mansion, and an impressive collection of antique furniture, the property provides a glimpse into the privileged lifestyle of its former owners; one of Australia’s wealthiest pioneer families.

Life can be seen to contain two major elements: the animate and the inanimate. While the inanimate bricks and mortar, objects and pathways, help in our understanding of this family, it is the animate, the social history, which makes Como come alive.

THE STABLES [of Como] 

The reason I havent posted of late, I have landed a new job as a Pastry chef at the most stunning work place one could dream of. The beautiful city of Melbourne, Australia nestled away amongst the concrete jungle and the hustle and bustle of city life is a stunning garden, with high fences and trees as tall as the clouds, where birds sing and the grass grows green, reeking of history the walls of the old Como House tell stories of decades past. Down the garden path, through the vegetable gardens and past the chicken coop sits a stable and with the help of an amazing team we have all converted this building into a gorgeous cafe with atmosphere to match. Come down and have a bite to eat- relive your child hood with home made musk sticks, giant chocolate freckles or indulge in a giant meringue as light as a cloud (all made by me), you will be greeted with a friendly welcome and stunning views. Excellent job Jase and team X